George got his first Gibson with humbuckers in 1965, a ES-345 that he used while miming in promo videos for ‘Day Tripper,’ ‘Help!,’ ‘I Feel Fine,’ ‘Ticket To Ride,’ and ‘We Can Work It Out.’ He played it that December on what turned out to be the band’s final British tour.
The following year, George got an SG Standard, used at Abbey Road when sessions began in April 1966 for Revolver and played at an NME concert in London in May, which marked The Beatles’ final British concert appearance. George also used his SG in more videos to promote the ‘Paperback Writer/Rain’ single in ’66 and ‘Lady Madonna’ in ’68.
In 1967, George took some paint and nail varnish and transformed his Strat into a personalized psychedelic artwork
In 1968, Eric Clapton gave a Les Paul to George. It was a ’57 Goldtop refinished in Cherry, and George named it Lucy and used it on several White Album and Abbey Road cuts. Eric played it on the solo on ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps.’
George’s final new Beatle guitar was a prototype Fender Rosewood Telecaster, made by Roger Rossmeisl, a gift from Fender that arrived at the band’s London Apple HQ in late ’68. George played it for the Apple rooftop concert on January 30, 1969.
Where Are They Now?
George gave his SG to Badfinger’s Pete Ham, whose brother sold it at auction in 2004 for $567,500, and his Rosewood Tele to Delaney Bramlett, who auctioned it in 2003 for $434,750. Both are owned now by Olivia Harrison, who also owns George’s Les Paul. The 345’s whereabouts are unknown.
Below are George’s Gibson ES-345, Gibson SG Standard, painted Strat, Gibson Les Paul and Fender Rosewood Telecaster.
